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IPC's Harvest for Hunger Drive

Each fall, IPC hosts Harvest for Hunger to help stock the Food Pantry, which currently supports our Blessing Boxes. We have also added a new food security program for children at Hayes K-8 School called, Weekend Buddy Bags. This drive is critical for keeping our Food Pantry stocked with non-perishable food, as well as hygiene and paper products. 

Our Blessing Boxes are emptied daily, sometimes more than once. To-date this year, we have provided a 7-10 day supply of groceries for 2,500 households through our grocery voucher partnership with City Meats. Our new Weekend Buddy Bags, scheduled to begin at Winter Break, will provide simple meal and snack items for selected students at Hayes. Our hunger and food insecurity focus is important now more than ever, as we know that 16.2% of our Jefferson County neighbors struggle below the poverty threshold, and 20% of our children are food insecure, including 94% of the students at Hayes.  

With your donations and by God’s grace, IPC’s Food Pantry has met higher demands during the pandemic. Our food pantry remains the only one in the area stocked completely through donations. We depend on the generosity of our church members and friends to keep the shelves filled. This year, consider how you will help the more than 100,000 children and their families who struggle with food insecurity. 

  • Pick up a Harvest for Hunger grocery sack from the Parlor now through Sunday, November 14. They are also available on the table in Highland Hall and at Community Ministries office. The food and hygiene items list is on the sacks and also available here. Return your filled bags to the parlor or Community Ministries office by Sunday, November 21, Harvest for Hunger dedication and celebration.
  • Bring items or have them delivered to Community Ministries. Amazon Prime, Shipt, and Walmart delivers are ways that food, hygiene items, and paper products can be donated to our Food Pantry.
  • Pick up Harvest for Hunger grocery sacks from Community Ministries and sponsor a food drive at your office.
  • Establish a new family tradition of giving - 1 bag per month, one item each Sunday per family member, etc.
  • Be an IPC Pantry Partner. Sign up to receive weekly email reminders of current needs. 
  • Become a Food Pantry volunteer and help us stock shelves and keep the Blessing Boxes filled.

Other ways IPC helps people struggling with hunger in our community include: serving supper at First Light women’s shelter 6 weeks annually, packing sack lunches to share with Highlands UMC homelessness outreach, helping IPC volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels, and new this year, helping IPC fill Weekend Buddy Bags beginning in December.

Unfortunately, hunger seems to never take a holiday, and so we get to join hands and hearts and provide for our neighbors, especially during this season of gratitude and holiday family gatherings.

For more information, contact Melissa Self Patrick at 205 933-3709, or Lisa Holloway at 205 933-3725. 

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  
~ Galatians 6:2

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